Can opener



Aug. 17, 1937. I T. ZAREMBA CAN OPENER I Filed Jan. 29, 1935 PatentedAug. 11, 1937 UNITED STATES CAN OPENER Tadeusz Zaremba, Warsaw, PolandApplication January 29, 1935. Serial No. 3,957

In Poland February 1, 1934 r 7 Claims.

I have filed an application in Poland on the 1st February, 1934.

The present invention relates to an improved can opener. The main objectof the invention is to provide a can opener in which the traction wheelperforms in addition to the known rotary movement which propels theopener along the rim of the can, a further movement relatively to thecutter, which is directed towards the cutter in such manner that uponthe traction wheel coming into contact with'the bead of the can, thecutter is drawn towards and into the wall of the can, whereby the wallof the can is cut through and the cutter is pressed into the wall.During the further rotation of the traction wheel, the

wall of the can is then cut by the butter in the usual manner. Theimproved can opener according to the invention can be supplied separatefrom the can go and used many times in connection with various cans, orit can be supplied with a particular can in which case it is placed bythe manufacturer at once in the correct position upon the can. The canopener can be used either for cutting the g5 peripheral wall of the canor the cover, the out being in either case in the vicinity of the rim orbead. It can be used in connection with cans having beads of variousvertical dimensions, inasmuch as the traction wheel automatically ad- 30justsitself during the cutting operation for the required size of bead.

An important feature of the improved can opener is a guide slot whichproduces a required relative movement between the traction wheel 35 andthe cutter blade or vice versa, and determines the direction of thismovement, as well as other means'which convert the turning movement.im--

v 45 Several constructional forms of the improved opener are shown inthe accompanying drawing, in which: 1

' Fig. 1 is an elevation of the opener seen from the interior, that is,from the side of the cutter blade,

Fig. 2 is anend view, Fig. 3 is an elevation of the opener seen from theexterior, that is from the side oi the handle,

Fig.4 is a plan corresponding to Fig. 1,

Pig. in an end view showing the can opener applied to a tin, the partsbeing shown in the cutting position of the opener.

Figs. 6, 6a, 6b and 7 show a modified construction, Fig.6 being anelevation of the shield, Figs. 6a and 6b showing details, and Fig. 7being a sec- 5 tional elevation,

Figs. 8,811. and 8b show a further modification, Fig. 8 being anelevation of the shield seen from the side of the cutter blade, andFigs. 8a. and 8b showing details, 10

Fig. 9 shows a further modification of the shield in elevation seen fromthe side of the cutter blade.

Figs. 9a and 9b illustrate details appertaining to the constructionshown in Fig. 9.

Figs. 10, 10a and 101) show a further modifica- 5 tion, Fig. 10 being anexternal view of the shield, and Figs. 10a andlOb showing details.

Fig. 11 shows the construction according to Figs. 1 to 5 withanadditional device for securing the whole can opener'to aocan in therequired initial position. x

Referring first. to Figs. 1 to 5, the can openr comprises a shield Iprovided with a guide slot 2 and a handle 3 which latter forms a unitwith'a traction wheel 4 a guide wheel 5 and a collar i5. The shield ihas at its lower end a lug 1 which forms an abutment bearing against aportion of the tin. The middle or central portion of the lug I has astraight edge exactly parallel to the surface of the shield so that thecan opener on being placed upon a can will always be located at the sameangle no matter whether the side of the can is cylindrical or plane. Theupper edge of the shield is in its middle portion bent to form a cutterblade 8 having an inclined cutting edge as shown. The slot 2 serves forguiding the handle 3 and the parts connected with the handle, namely thetraction wheel 4, the guide wheel 5 and the collar IS. The upper portion'9 of the guide slot 2 is arranged at an angle relatively to the main 40portion of the slot 2 either in the one or in the other directionand-serves as a bearing or support for the guide wheel 5 during thecutting operation. As will be seen from the drawing, the

hese projections 1 being adapted to cooperate with a in Iii carrieddownwards towards the cover of the tin. Assuming that the device hasbeen placed upon a tin with a view to cutting the cover along the innerside of the rim, the cutter blade penetrates gradually into the coverand pierces the cover as shown in Fig. 5, the toothed traction wheel 4simultaneously cominginto contact with the lower edge of the bead. Atthe same time, the guide 5 wheel 5 is moved towards the inclinedextension 9 of the guide slot. As the cutter blade rests during thecommencement of this operation upon 'a' still solid portion of thecover,- the traction wheel 4 will be firmly pressed into the bead of thetin. I

The extended slot portion 9 serves also as a means for moving during theupward movement of the handle the engaged members away from each otherso as to permit of a further rotation of the handle. This furtherrotation of the handle then causes the opener to move along, the coverof the tin being during this movement completely out by the cutter blade8. It is not essential that the projections 6 and 6' be bent awaylaterally from the handle 8, this construction being shown only as aconvenient one from themanufacturers point of view. If preferred, theprojections 6 and- .6 might be arranged in the line of the handle.

By suitably applying the device to the. cover of the tin, the peripheralside of the tin can be cut through. w

The modification shown in Figs. 6, 6a, 6b and 'I differsfrom theconstruction just described only in that the collar I5 of the firstconstruction is replaced by a lifting wheel I! formed with two recessesll arranged diametrically opposite each other. The projections 6 and 8'are omitted. Otherwise the construction is the same as shown in Figs. 1to 5. on turning the handle 8' a fiank of a recess l'l encounters thepin III of the shield and the whole handle together with the wheels 4,5, and I2 is moved upwardly, that is, towards thecutter blade, thismovement causing again the cutter blade to pierce the can as previouslydescribed.

The modification shown in 8 to 10b refers to the shape of the guide slot2 in the shields I, l",- l' and to the construction of the guide wheeland the lifting'wheel. In the modification according to Figs. 8, 8a and8b the wall bounding the slot 2 is provided with a projection or toothl3 and the guide wheel ll serves both for guiding and for lifting thehandle, the collar I5 is, in this case circular and serves, as

in the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 5, merely for holding the handlein the slot 2. The guide wheel H is provided with a recess l8 which,dur-.

ing the turning of the handle, encounters the tooth l8 and moves thetraction wheel relatively to the cutter blade in the manner previouslydescribed. In this construction the guide slot has not theextended'portion 9.

The construction shown in Figs 9, 9a and 9b differs from theconstruction according to Figs.

8, 8a and 82) only in that the guide and lifting wheel 16 is in the formof-a toothed wheel, the

guide slot 2 of the shield I" being provided with corresponding teethl1. Upon rotation of the #5 handle the toothed wheel l6 engages theteeth before it is intended to open the tin,

2,090,882 of the slot and the same action, namely, relative movementbetween the traction wheel and the cutter blade is produced.

In the construction according to Figs. 10, 10a and 10b, the guide wheel5 is constructed as in Figs. 1 to 7. The lifting wheel, however, has theform of a toothed wheel I8. This toothed wheel is adapted to engagebetween pins l0 provided upon shield i" By this engagement, the handleis moved upwardly and the cutter blade is again caused to enter andpierce the cam.

In place of the lifting wheel, the traction wheel 4 may be used which,in this case, may mesh with a short toothed rack fixed upon the shieldupon the inner side, that is, upon the side corresponding to the cutterblade 8. The guide slots 2, or 9, may be arranged at any desired anglesrelatively tothe cutting edge of the plate 8; they may consist of acontinuous guide slot of arcuate shape, or of any suitable curved shape.

The relative movement of the traction wheel 4 and the cutter blade 8 mayalso be obtained by an arrangement in which a traction trotatablymounted in the shield of the'opener imparts to the cutter blade 8 therequired relative movement, said cutter blade being for this purposemounted upon a toothed rack slidable relatively to the shield andengaged by the traction wheel.

In some cases manufacturers supply a can opener with each tin and placethe opener in the required position upon the tin in order to savecustomers the trouble of applying the opener to the tin. In order toprevent the tin opener from being accidentally operated in such cases Iis, as shown in Fig. 11, provided with a retaining plate or member i 9,the ends of which are bent to engage on the one hand the tin opener andon the otherhand the rim of the tin, as shown in Fig. 11. This retainingmember prevents accidental depression of the cutter blade 8 andconsequently piercing of the tin. On

actuating the tin opener, the retainivig member is automatically put outof action 0 ing to the fact that the bent portions 20 are'straightenedby the force used in turning the handle 3, 3', whereupon the opener willbe actuated in the manner previously described.

It will be understood that various modifications are possible within thescope of the invention, which generally comprises any construction inwhich means are provided for obtaining a relative movement between thetraction wheel and the cutting blade by the operation of the handle ortraction wheel.

I claim:

. 1. A can opener, comprising in combination: a shield; a fixedwedge-shaped cutter blade on said shield; a traction wheel provided witha handle for rotating same; and means for relatively moving said cutterblade and said traction wheel towards and away from each other operableby rotation of said handle, said means comprising: a guide slot in whichthe traction wheel with the handle is slidably mounted, said guide slotbeing placed in such a manner relatively to the rear edge of the knife,that it is always in front of said edge, considered in the direction ofthe movement of the can opener during cutting.

2. A can opener, comprising in combination: a shield; a fixedwedge-shaped cutter blade on said shield; a traction wheel providedwitha handle for rotating same; and means for relathe shield tivelymoving said cutter blade and said traction wheel towards and away fromeach other operable by rotation of said handle, said means comprising: aguide slot in which the traction wheel with the handle is slidablymounted, said guide slot being placed in such a. manner relatively tothe rear edge of the knife, that it is always in front of said edge,considered; in the direction of the movement of the can opener duringcutting, and said guide slot consisting of two arms, one of which islocated below the knife, whilst the other is arranged at an angle to thefirst arm for the reception and guiding of the traction wheel during theactual cutting operation.

- 3. A can opener, comprising in combination: a shield; a fixedwedge-shaped cutter blade on said shield; a traction wheel provided witha handle for rotating same; and means for relatively moving said cutterblade and said traction wheel towards and away from each other operableby rotation of said handle, said means comprising: a guide slot in whichthe traction wheel with the handle is slidably mounted, said guide slotbeing placed in such a manner relatively to the rear edge of the knife,that it is always in front of said edge, considered in the direction ofthe movement of the canopener during cutting,

and a projection upon said shield and a member associated with saidtraction wheel and adapted upon striking said projection to move saidtraction wheelv towards said cutter blade.

4. A can opener comprising in combination: a shield; a fliedwedge-shaped cutter blade on said shield; a traction wheel provided witha handle for rotating same; and means for relatively moving said cutterblade and said traction wheel towards and away from each other operableby rotation of said handle, said means comprising: a guide slot in whichthe said traction wheel with the handle is slidably mounted,saidguideslot being placed in such a manner relatively to the rear edge oithe knife, that it is al- 4 ways in front of this edge, considered inthe direction of the movement of the can opener during cutting, andprojections upon said shield and a member associated with said tractionwheel and adapted to co=operate with said projections upon the shield.

5. A can owner comprising in combination: a shield; a iixeclwedge-shapedcutter blade on a shield;

said shield; a traction wheel provided with a handle i'or rotating same;and means for relatively moving said cutter blade and said tractionwheel towards and away irom each other operable loy rotation of saidhandle, said means comprising: a guide slot in which the traction wheelwith the handle is slidabiy mounted, said guide slot being placed insuch a manner relatively, to the rear edge of the knife, that it isalways in front oi this edge, considered in the direction of themovement of the can opener during cutting, and a tooth in the guide slotin said shield, and a member associated with said traction wheel andadapted to co-operate with said tooth of the slot.

(LA can opener comprising in combination: a shield; a fixed.wedge-shaped cutter blade on said, shield; a traction wheel providedwith a handle for rotating same; and means for relatively moving saidcutter blade and said traction wheel towards and away from each otheroperable by rotation of said handle, said means comprising: a guide slotin which the traction wheel with the handleis slidably mounted, saidguide slot being placed in such a manner relatively to the rear edge ofthe knife, that it is always in tr'ont of this edge, considred in thedirection of the movement of the can opener during cutting and a camslot having a toothed portion, and a member associated with saidtraction wheel and adapted to co-operate with. said toothedportioni 7. Aoan" opener comprising in combination: a, fixed wedge-shapeddutter bladeon said shield; a traction wheel provided with a handle for rotatingsame; and means for relatively moving said cutter blade and saidtraction wheel towards and away from each other operopener to a. can,said means consisting of a retaining plate or member engaging the loweredge of said shield and the rim of a can.

